Letters: Paying the polluter

This refers to the report “Manmohan Singh assures help on Tirupur pollution issue” (April 11). Is it right to bail out the knitwear industry of Tirupur with an outlay of Rs 1,000 crore when the industry has been polluting the region by discharging toxic effluents into the local river Noyyal for almost a decade? Instead, why not make the polluter pay, especially, when in this case it is a flourishing and powerful industry. Even if hundreds of workers are dependent on the knitwear industry for their livelihood, one cannot ignore the environmental hazards it is causing around the region.

The local reservoir is encrusted with toxic chemicals. Moreover, the reservoir has no lining due to which the poisonous water has been seeping into the ground. These toxic chemicals have spread to about 2 km on either sides of the reservoir and 10 km downstream along the river. The fields of the region remain barren. Even coconut trees show stunted growth. The water in the region is not fit for bathing or even washing clothes. The local hospital at Tirupur has confirmed a high rate of incidence of skin disease and lung disorders.

In such a situation should the people of Tirupur look for a local Anna Hazare or hope for the government to intervene on their behalf? This is a grave issue that the UPA government, especially Jairam Ramesh, must address before committing Rs 1,000 crore from tax payers’ money.

S Subramanyan, Navi Mumbai 

Readers should write to:
The Editor, Business Standard, Nehru House,
4, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002,
Fax: (011) 23720201;
letters@bsmail.in